New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-07
SUPPLEMENT.
PAGES 9 TO IL.
THE ACKNOWLEDGES.
TRANSPORTATION OF THE WILDERNESS
TrpoM A srAPP CORRESPONDENT OF THE IRIBuS5.I

rorasts will stand for many years yet the streams
vii, not run dry, trout still leap in the brooks
and follow the trolling line in the lakes; put
few summers more will see the final disappearance
of the old Characteristic charm which has en-
deared this region to so many sportSmen ana
lovers # nature. When came here four years
ago the change was already pretty far ADVANCED
yet within a mile or two of the large notes ono
found even then the wilderness Of the silent
woods, the peace and freedom Of solitude, shady
water sides for tent and cabin with pools near
by where the early rising angler could be sure
of catching his breakfast, and favorite feeding
grounds OF the deer. The wilderness lay open
TO you as though you were its first discoverer
You might build your camp where you pleased
without asking whether the forest had an owner;
none would modest you, and occupation was even
supposed 10 give shadowy right, unreal 10 DC
sure but nevertheless respected. Released from
boundaries and restrictions everything seenieu
10 be yours. The sense of independence eNpah-
non. adventure. gave zest to this open-air
life which nothing can ever replace lhere was
q plenty of such freedom only four years ago.
although near the hotels q very different state
If things had come about On the lakes dominated
by those establishments the rule Of existence
was an expensive artificial simplicity CABINS
had grown into cottages with rustic verandas,
architecture, terraces and flights Of steps. The
customs of camp society were rapidly adjusting
themselves to these material conditions and be-
coming hardly less conventional than the fashions
of the town. The tendencies which were then
well marked on the St. Regis Lakes, to which
my description especially applies, although IL
will fit many other parts Of the Adirondacks'
have since been greatly strengthened; and thoy
now seem to have fixed the character OF an
extensive region.
A decisive influence in the establishment of
this type of camping is the sudden disappearance
of the old privilege Of "squatting." Last sum
mer the buying and selling of land began, and
Immediately the entire availahls water front OF
the ST. Regis chain OF lakes was disposed or,
mostly to the campers who already occupied It,
The price at first ono hundred dollars an
acre: afterwald it was fixed at sum per front
foot under conditions which made the rate about
the same. The rapidity of these transactions was
almost bewildcring In single night the OH
order of things passed away. The free adven-
turcr became landed proprietor, with decd
in one pocket and a tax bill in another With
his two or three hundred feet OF water front,
neiehbors crowded him ON both sides and enjoyed
an intimate acquaintance with his domestic ar
rangemcnts The wildness Of the forest van
ished when the forest had TO be bought In small
parcels at hundred dollars an acre.
1t is true that elsewhere than on the st. Regis
chain, yet near enough 10 Paul smiths hotter Tor
practical convenience. there are good camping
sites where the land is still free 10 tie first
conner but people now hesitate TO build camp
without securing the ground, not knowing how
soon the owners may see fit to sell, nor what
terms they may be able TO exact. thus the
St. Regis type of camp becomes more and more
characteristic Of the region. All roughness has
been taken from it, LuXuries Of every kind
are found in it, from telephone to French
cook With its prettincss and its brie-a-brac 1t
is essentially lady's camp. Feminine taste
determines its decoration and prescribes the daily
routine, the late breakfast, the afternoon tea,
the round of visits, the boat parade which an
swers to the drive in the park, the camp flag
which serves for livery, the rendezvous at the
hotel the mild rivalrcs in furniture and costume,
There is no tempta ton to wander among mos
auitoes in the tangled woods; the canoe Is the
vehicle of exercise. and the guide puts away
his rod and rifle TO become little more than
boatman and family factotum. parallel devel-
opment Of fashion goes ON at the hotel, between
which and the dependent camps there is el,Se
relationship. The huge new wing which has
altered the whole aspect OF Paul Smiths Is
admired for it's capacious ballroom and its vast
%
these essentials of a gay wateringpiacc the house
is earnestly following out its destiny. The crowd
seems TO me not only bigger than in other years.
but more smartly dressed, more content with
the regulation vacancy of summer hotel lfe
and less inclined to go a-hshing. But OF course
IL Paul Smiths means to live up to It's pazzas IL
will have no time for much else.
All through the Adirondaclss one hears OF
rimilar changes New hotels opening; Oh
ones are Offering more generous accommodation;
swarms of tourists are invading the haunts OF
the sportsman; Chicago dressed beef Is sup
planting venison; and fish for the table is sent
from New-York. The efforts of the New-fork
Central and Delaware and Hudson railroads 10
turn vacation travel in this direction have been
facilitated by important extensions OF the local
roads, the Northern Adirondack from Mora on
the Ogdensburg and Lake Cbamplaln Railroad,
and the Chateaugay, from PiattSburg 10 Loon
lake by either of which a passenger leaving
New-Yorlx at night can reach St Regis Lakes
the next morning. The old route from Ausahle
Forks with its forty miles of staging, has been
totally abandoned and the coaches have been
taken of. Nothing will abolish wilderness so
uuickIy as a railroad, and the recent extensions
into this region are operating in that way with
especial effectiveness. The Northern Adirondack
is lumber road, the main purpose OF which is 10
get at q fine section OF pine forest west oil Faui
Smiths chief of the Chateaugay exten-
sion IS for tie charcoal burners who supply the
Dannemora iron district linus the trains rush
into the lately silent woods, shrieking double
message of doom in the names OF the woodcutter
and the excursion tourist. Just now the wilder
ness reminds me of the transition period at
Niarthas Vineyard Mount Desert an era oil
bewitehing affectations and Inconsistencies, when
young people hesitatcd between starch and liam
mel and played at living out Of doors Starch
always prevails in such contests, and have no
doubt that the near future Of the Adirondack
resorts will be like that OF Bar Harbor ana
Cottage City. For the present il is amusing to